Rubina Nazli

A Study of Lipoproteins in Normal and Pregnancy Induced Hypertensive Women in Tertiary Care Hospitals of the North West Frontier Province-Pakistan

Objectives. To evaluate the levels of serum lipoproteins in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and compare it with the corresponding levels in pregnant women having normal blood pressure. Method. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the three tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. A total of 206 pregnant women at gestational age of >20 weeks were registered in the study after taking informed consent. All relevant information was recorded on a predesigned questionnaire. Serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured in 151 women with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and compared with the corresponding values for a control group of 55 normotensive pregnant women. Result. Cholesterol levels were not statistically different between the patient group and controls. Triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the patient group than in controls. Women who developed hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation had 6.7, 4.2, 40.5, and 39.7% higher concentrations of TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and TG, respectively, and 28, 22.4, and 67.6% higher ratios of TC : HDL-C, LDL-C : HDL-C, and TG : HDL-C, respectively, as compared to the control subjects. The mean difference of the concentrations of HDL-C, VLDL-C, and TG, and the ratios TC : HDL-C, LDL-C : HDL-C, TG : HDL-C, and HDL-C : VLDL-C between the patients and control group was statistically significant. Conclusion. The assessment of blood lipids may be helpful in the prevention of complications in PIH patients.

Depression among patients with type-II diabetes mellitus.

This study aimed to determine the frequency of depression among patients with type-II diabetes mellitus in Peshawar at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, from March to September 2010. Depression was assessed by using Beck Depressive Inventory-II (BDI-II). Out of 140 patients with type-II diabetes, 85 (61%) were women and 55 (39%) were men. Mean age was 45±7.45 years. Eighty four (60%) patients presented with severe depression. Depression was higher in females than males and widows. Depression was high in diabetic patients, especially in females and widows. It is of essence that psychiatric attention may be necessary to be incorporated in diabetes care both for prevention and treatment.

Screening of adult dental patients visiting Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar for HBV and HCV infections and identifying the associated risk factors

Objective: To screen out adult patients for HBV and HCV infections visiting Khyber College of Dentistry Peshawar (KCD) for different dental treatments and to identify the associated risk factors. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar in the year 2013. A total of 1540 patients >15 years, visiting KCD for seeking different dental treatments were screened for hepatitis B & C. Informed consent was taken before blood collection and filling of a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were tested against HBsAg and anti HCV by using ICT that were further confirmed by ELISA. The data was analyzed using Epi info version 6. Results: A total of 1540 patients were screened during the study. Among these 36.4%(561) were males and 63.6%(979) were females. Overall prevalence of HBV and HCV was 5.12%(79). On screening, 2.14%(33) were found to be HBs Ag positive of which 2.5%(14) were males and 1.9%(19) were females. HCV was found positive in 2.98%(46) individuals having male to female ratio of 1.6% and 3.8%. Frequency of HBsAg was high in age group 56-65 year and HCV in 36-45 year group. Previous history of IV/IM injections, spouse patient of hepatitis, blood transfusion, surgical operation were found significant risk factors in the transmission of both hepatitis B and C, while previous history of dental treatment and sharing of clippers were significant risk factor in spreading hepatitis C infection only. Conclusions: Overall prevalence of HCV was higher than HBV. Previous history of injections, spouse patient of hepatitis, blood transfusion, surgical operation were found significant risk factors in the transmission of both hepatitis B and C.

Comparison of maternal serum lipoproteins in normal pregnancy and primiparous patients with eclampsia.

Objective: To evaluate changes in serum lipoproteins in primiparous women with eclampsia and compare it with pregnant women having normal blood pressure. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 65 primiparous eclamptic patients and 21 normotensive pregnant women in the tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar. History of each woman was recorded on a questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured using standard methods. About 5 ml of venous blood was drawn for the analysis of lipoproteins. The data was analyzed using computer software package SPSS version 10. The P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age of hypertensive cases was 23.2 ± 0.52 years while that for controls was 23.9 ± 1.16 years. Significant differences were found in serum lipoproteins. Women having eclampsia had 28.8%, 29.5%, 31.1%, 32.9% and 65.3% higher, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC):high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC) ratio, LDLC: HDLC ratio and TG: HDLC ratio respectively as compared to the control group. The HDLC concentrations, HDLC: VLDLC ratio and apolipoprotein-A1 level were 26.9%, 56.6% and 27.9% respectively, lower in the patient group as compared to the controls. Conclusion: This study suggests that evaluation of lipoprotein concentrations during antenatal period can be helpful in the early detection and prevention of developing eclampsia.

Frequency of ABO blood groups and RhD factor in the female population of District Peshawar.

Objective: To determine the frequency of ABO blood group and Rhesus (Rh) D antigen in the females of “District” Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 429 women having pregnancy induced hypertension, admitted in the three teaching hospitals of Peshawar, over a period of one year. Blood sample was collected from each subject after taking informed consent. The antigen antibody agglutination slide test for “blood grouping (ABO)” and RhD factors was done by using IgM and IgG monoclonal reagents. The antisera used were from Biolaboratory, USA. Data was analyzed for percentage calculation. Results: The blood group distribution was 134 (31.2%), 43 (10.1%), 116 (27%), 136 (31.7%) for blood groups A, AB, O and B, respectively. Subjects having blood group B was slightly more dominant, followed by A and O, while blood group AB was rare in these females. Blood group A Rh negative is more in female 12 (37.5%) followed by group O 10 (31.3%), group B 09 (28.1%) and group AB 01 (3.1%). Conclusion: Frequency of “Rh-positive blood group” is B, A, O and AB, whereas the frequency of the most common Rh-negative blood group are A, O, B and AB respectively. The determination of the frequency of blood groups in the region would not only help in blood transfusion services, but also reduce the risk of erythroblastosis foetalis in the neonates.